Noah backs son Joakim over drugs arrest

PARIS: Yannick Noah, who is marking the 25th anniversary of his French Open title, sprang to the defense of his son Joakim on Tuesday after the basketball star was arrested for possession of marijuana.

Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win the men's singles at Roland Garros in 1983, told his 23-year-old son, who plays for the Chicago Bulls, that the incident was "nothing serious".

"In the newspapers, there's a lot of talk about my son who is 23 and has a drink with his friends and who is caught with a joint in his pocket," said Noah senior.

"He called me. He said: 'Dad, I think I've blundered'. I said: 'Yes, it's a mistake but it's not serious. Don't change. Make me happy, don't let it happen again'."

Noah, a forward with the Bulls, was arrested in Gainesville, Florida, on Sunday on charges of marijuana possession and having an open alcohol container.

The player was stopped in the early hours when a policeman saw him on the pavement carrying a plastic cup containing an "amber-colored" liquid, according to a Gainesville police report.

Authorities found the beverage was alcoholic, putting him in violation of a city law that prohibits drinking alcohol on the street.

After Noah was taken to the police station, police allegedly found a marijuana cigarette in his pocket.

According to Yannick Noah, his son could face a fine.

"I told him that I have fooled around for 20 years and I'm still popular because people think I'm a good bloke. So you can do the same thing," he said.

"When you do something well, it's extraordinary and when you make a blunder, it's a catastrophe. It's all part of the game. After all, you are called Joakim Noah."

AFP

(China Daily 05/29/2008 page20)